driver distractions Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

A Wrong Way Driver

Daun Thompson — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 00:25:27 +0000

January marked the first death in Texas due to a wrong-way driver. Every driver knows that road reflectors on the highway at night will reflect a silvery white. If you’re going the wrong way on the highway at night, they will reflect red, meaning that you are going the wrong way! Trust me, you don’t want to be a wrong way driver. And if you are, that first time could be your last. I mean, you may not live to tell stories about it at a party. Not only will paying attention save the lives of others, it may also save your own life and the lives of your passengers. And, trust me here too, no one will EVER ride with you again EVER (did I already say EVER?). So, pay close attention to road signs and never get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking alcohol, because there’s no right way to be a wrong way driver. Be safe. Drive smart.

While relatively rare (wrong way collisions accounted for only 3 % of crashes on high-speed divided highways in recent years), they typically result in fatalities. And the driver in error is typically intoxicated in about 60% of these crashes. Of course, older disoriented drivers cause these accidents as well. But even as law enforcement agencies are fighting this problem, highway officials in many states say the sometimes pricey technology can be another tool to save lives. After all, what exactly is a “life” worth? Spike strips when entering the exit ramps, lowering warning signs and even lighting those signs with flashing hazard lights are just a few tools. Intoxicated drivers tend to look downward at the roadway directly ahead of them. Installing the flashing warning signs on the roadway to let other drivers know that someone is entering the wrong way is another brilliant effort, as alerting other drivers is just as important as trying to stop the wrong way driver, right?

Also, the TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) Be Safe Drive Smart is a year-long public education and awareness effort aimed at saving lives and reducing crashes. The umbrella campaign covers all aspects of safe driving with a special focus on traffic safety in the state’s energy sectors, work zones and along the I-35 corridor, specifically. TxDOT’s goal is to make drivers aware of their own unsafe driving habits. It is said that big cities with dense populations and high numbers of vehicles per capita experience the worst crashes due to wrong-way drivers. By virtue of physics, two vehicles colliding at high speeds is often catastrophic. Many of these accidents happen late at night or in the wee morning hours. So, avoiding being on the road during those hours will possibly help the rest of us. Now we also have ride-share companies that are of reasonable cost. So there is no excuse to drive drunk, impaired, distracted or disoriented. Again, what’s a life worth?

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

A Wrong Way Driver – Comedy Defensive Driving School

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Texting Law in Texas

Daun Thompson — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:29:42 +0000

“Whoopee ti yi yo, get along little texting ban…It’s your misfortune ain’t none of your own…Whoopee ti yi yo, get along little texting ban…You know that TEXAS will be your new home.”
Finally!! There will be a texting law in Texas. It’s been a long time coming and thank goodness we are finally evolving. Now there are only three states to go (Montana, Arizona and Missouri). Texas’ law will go into effect on September 1st, so we’ll still have to be on guard for the next 2-1/2 months, and then those of us mothers who fret about our children driving among distracted drivers can finally kick back and quit the anxiety meds. I have an only child (because…ouch! I haven’t even “dated” since). And I’m too old to make another so I do really worry about her. Currently, Texas has state laws prohibiting the use of cell phones and electronic devices in active school zones (hands-free). Bus drivers and drivers under the age of 18 also have hands-free restrictions. There are also some cities in Texas with city ordinances restricting texting, while talking on the phone when driving is still okay. For 2-1/2 years now Austin and San Antonio have been enforcing hands-free city ordinances. Denton County became hands-free in January.

So, at the risk of sounding ungrateful (because, believe me, I am genuinely thrilled about our new state law), those cities and counties that are already hands-free will actually “regress” to only texting bans (and now talking on a cell phone will be legal again in those areas). But, again, it’s better than nothing at all. I am not certain what this new law will mean. No texting while driving could mean that you can still talk on the phone but, in order to text, read, scroll or update your GPS, you actually have to be off of the roadway, with your car in “park.” This is actually how our current city ordinances are set up (those which are not entirely hands-free). Or, this no texting ban could simply mean that a driver cannot text while the car is moving (which some people will still do, illegally), but a driver may be able to text while the car is not in motion (like at a red light). If the new law is the second scenario here, even law-abiding citizens will be texting, reading and updating their GPS while waiting at a red light. Because, if you can legally do it, why wouldn’t you? Drivers are impatient as it is. Especially when a red light turns green, it’s like their horn is coordinated with the light. They don’t even give you a chance to take your foot off of the brake and hit the gas before they honk at you “What are you waiting for…another shade of green?” Hopefully, the new state law will enlist the first scenario.

Either way, thank goodness for evolution!
Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Texting Law in Texas – Comedy Defensive Driving

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EMBARRASSING DRIVING MISTAKES

Daun Thompson — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:05:38 +0000

I am a true believer that the chicken came before the egg. I also believe that embarrassing driving mistakes, followed by a “honk” from another driver letting you know what a goober you are leads to anger and sometimes full-on road rage. No one wants to be scolded in public, especially by a stranger. While it is currently uncool to scold a child in public, we still find it acceptable to scold an adult. I find that some of these embarrassing driving mistakes we all make (I know that I have done at least a few of these) can often be avoided.

Leaving your signal on for “eternity” is a common driving faux pas. Car manufacturers have remedied this by changing the signal so it blinks anywhere before 3-7 blinks before it automatically shuts off. Since older cars don’t have this feature, nor do “older people” with older cars, there lies your demographic. I am in that demographic. Since this happens so often, signaling to change lanes is a bit like crying wolf. If someone has their signal on in another lane, we don’t know if they really would like to move over or if they just left the darned thing on. So now, since you’ve been fooled before, you just back off for a few seconds and if they don’t get over immediately…oh well! Then you look in your rear view mirror and see them about a mile back in that same lane with that signal just flashing away!

Not going when the light turns green is another common driving mistake but this one fuels an already impatient driver behind you. And they know that the only reason you didn’t peel out like a bull out of the shoot when the light turned green can only be due to your inattention. Let’s face it, if you didn’t go because your car actually stalled out, you’d have turned your hazard lights on.

Driving too slow in the left passing lane makes other drivers completely nuts. If you are passing other cars, fine. But if you are impeding traffic by just cruising in the passing lane where no one can pass, it causes a wave of road rage. Is it possible that some drivers are not aware that the left lane is for passing only? Or perhaps they just don’t really care (which is what the other drivers around them are thinking).

Parallel parking (or parallel chicken) is a skill that is acquired with much practice. You’ll have it mastered if you are taught the proper way to parallel park by pulling next to the car you wish to park behind where your steering wheel is parallel to that car, then cutting your wheels and backing in, and then practicing that for about 20 years. That’s why some newer cars will parallel park for you.

So, stop driving like a knucklehead. Be mindful and considerate of other drivers around you. It will give you confidence and will make your driving experience at least somewhat bearable.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Embarrassing Driving Mistakes – Comedy Defensive Driving

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States Void of a Texting Ban

Daun Thompson — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 15:56:02 +0000

When I was a kid, the biggest distraction in our car was the radio (and us kids). My mom (a.k.a. Old Yeller) would drive with one hand, while the other arm was just swinging-away at us in the back seat. Her swinging arm was like Popeye’s, and her driving arm was atrophied (like a bone with skin on it). It’s true…we were terrible kids, so she’d leave us in the hot car for hours while she went into the grocery store. Currently, a parent goes to jail for leaving a kid in a hot car (I like to think it’s because kids are much more important now than they were when I was a kid). We didn’t have cell phones, GPS or DVD’s in the car then. These seem to be the biggest distractions now. So why is there no texting ban in Texas? There is no doubt whatsoever that texting while driving is very dangerous. But Texas still remains one of the only four states void of a texting ban (Texas, Montana, Arizona and Missouri).

Texas lawmakers are planning once again to introduce a bill banning texting and driving statewide. But will it become a law? Every two years, the Texas Legislature returns in January to re-visit this issue. So, if a bill does pass, we may have a law that will go into effect in September. But, apparently, there is already some republican opposition. They argue that a law would infringe on the individual freedoms of adult drivers. So, what about the freedoms of innocent drivers that are injured and killed by those distracted adult drivers? They also argue that a statewide law would not make a difference regarding the safety of drivers, which is in direct contradiction to data provided by the TXDOT, which reported more than 100,000 car accidents caused by distracted drivers in 2015 alone. That’s a staggering number. Yet, folks are skeptical that it will pass during the upcoming 85th legislative session.

So this Texan will follow closely to keep you informed. In the meantime, if you are a Texan, perhaps it is comforting to know that we do have over 90 cities that currently ban texting while driving. Also, drivers under the age of 18, commercial vehicle drivers (including bus drivers) and all drivers in activated school zones are banned from texting.

Statistics show that one out of 4 car accidents are a result of texting while driving. And, texting while driving is six times more likely to crash than drunk drivers. So if you’re drinking “and” texting … yikes!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
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Cell Phone Laws

Daun Thompson — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:46:49 +0000

It is quite shocking to me that not all states in our grand nation have a ban regarding cell phone use while driving. Only 14 states and D.C. ban talking on a hand-held cell phone, while 37 states and D.C. ban the use of all cell phones by novice drivers. And text messaging while driving (for all drivers) is banned in 46 states and D.C. Novice drivers are banned from texting in only two states (Missouri and Texas). Most school bus drivers are banned from texting and using hand-help cell phones in most states as well. Where there are no state laws in place, some states do have city ordinances restricting cell phone use to some degree. Arizona and Montana apparently have no cell phone laws in place, whatsoever.

Where I live in North Texas, there are only 16 cities that I am aware of that have passed a city ordinance banning cell phone use while driving (Arlington, Grand Prairie, Denton, Watauga, Little Elm, Hickory Creek, Bedford, Euless, Hurst, Highland Park, University Park, Farmers Branch, Addison, Highland Park, University Park, Rowlett and Sunnyvale). There are likely other cities beyond North Texas that have passed ordinances that I am not aware of, but I do know that Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston and Amarillo definitely have bans. Only two of these five cities are completely hands free city ordinances (Austin and San Antonio), while the others only ban texting or viewing your phone while driving.
Again, while there may be more cities that have joined in, now, this is the most current list that I am aware of. How many cities are you aware of in your great state that ban cell phone use while driving?

While I prefer my tax dollars not be used to fund the policing (or babysitting) of drivers who cannot put their phones down. And I would like to see their resources being used to control crime. I would hope that all states eventually come together and create a federal law banning any major distractions while driving (anything that takes your eyes off of the road long enough to cause a crash).

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

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ROAD TRIP TIPS

Daun Thompson — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:28:48 +0000

“Keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel.” “The future’s uncertain and the end is always near. “ Those lyrics from The Doors’ Roadhouse Blues are very prophetic. Perhaps Jim Morrison foresaw an overwhelming amount of distractions in our future, and the possibility of shortening one’s life due to those distractions. Spending much of his childhood on road trips, though scenic, those long drives must have become somewhat monotonous and sometimes evening boring for a kid. It would be easy for someone’s mind to wander. Many of his best lyrics were written as a result of those hours of idle time, trapped in a car, driving through the Southwest United States. There is plenty of nothing to see for a kid. For grown ups, there is Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo, Texas, Stonehenge II in Odessa, The Branch Davidians’ swimming pool in Waco. And now we have the Prada Retail Store art installation in Marfa (only for looks, not a real working store). You also must see The Thing in Dragon, Arizona! Here are a few road trip tips to help keep it safe and fun.

Unfortunately, the Morrison family didn’t have satellite radio to be able to listen to. You’ve got to love the variety of unusual stations that don’t lose their signal between cities. That’s certainly a lifesaver! If you plan a road trip with passengers, assign whoever is going to be sitting in the front seat as your “co-pilot.” They can be appointed as your assistant and be expected to do whatever you ask of them (well, nearly everything). Make a game out of it, or more like a competition. Set rules for yourself and other drivers. No cell phone use while driving, PERIOD. No talking, texting or reading messages or emails. Set up your phone in driving mode and maybe even put it in the glove compartment. Have chatting periods, music periods, etc. Put your “co-pilot” in charge of the music and GPS. Map your routes before leaving for your trip. Re-check them every day to familiarize yourself with your routes. Stop and eat all of your meals. Or purchase healthy food items and take time to stop and enjoy a picnic. Get out every few hours and take a brisk walk. Make a little sight-seeing tour out of it and take some pictures.

Road Trip America is a great website with tips, sightseeing tours and loads of great information for your next road trip. As the Lizard King said “Have a real good time…let it roll, baby roll.”

Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Road Trip Tips – Comedy Defensive Driving

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TEENS BEHIND THE WHEEL

Daun Thompson — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 00:22:15 +0000

When it comes to parenting, it is said that over-involvement in your teenager’s life can be counter-productive. My mother would disagree, as would most grandmothers from her generation who ruled with an iron fist and a stingy flyswatter. Why did parents of my generation think they could do it better? Oh well, at least we experimented with time outs and counting to three, and we failed miserably. So, when it comes time for your teenager to be driving, you’re going to have to really put your foot down (or up…). Although helicopter parenting may be considered over the top and not very helpful, when it comes to our teens behind the wheel, nagging a little too much and being overly cautious may be the best approach to save your teenager’s life.
There are countless stories about teen accidents as well as countless videos showing teens driven to distraction, and the statistics are alarming. Studies show that, if you are going to die prematurely, at any time in your life, the two worst years are between 16 and 17, and the reason is because of driving. In fact, the leading cause for accidental death in teenagers is car crashes and the second leading cause for accidental death is perhaps from mouthing off (after all, I am a mother. Inexperienced drivers, combined with in-car distractions is truly a recipe for disaster. And, when it comes to our kids, studies also say that many parents may be much too relaxed about the subject. Either they trust their own kids entirely too much (which puts a lot of adult responsibility on them), or the parents are simply tired of car pooling their children and look forward to having someone else take over that chore. And why not other errands as well, such as washing the car, shopping, etc. Sometimes it’s nice to have some help. And most teenagers that haven’t a car of their own would jump at the chance to get behind the wheel and run those errands for you, just to get some drive time. Which is a good thing, since practice leads to experience, and experience makes a better driver. Under the strict rule, although, that they are not picking up other friends to go along for the ride since teen car pooling causes the most danger.
According to AAA, if a 16 or 17 year old driver has a passenger under 21 in the car, they are 44% more likely to be killed in a crash. Having two passengers doubles that risk, and it quadruples with three or more passengers.
It is said that teens think that they are invincible and they’re not particularly worried about the harm to themselves of getting in a car crash. Some kids admit that they were trying to look cool for their friends and/or trying to impress them when they crashed. Most states set passenger limits for new drivers for these very reasons. But ultimately it is the parent’s responsibility to keep their own kid safe. So, setting rules will only let them know that you care. Make a contract with your kid. Stipulating the rules and outlining the consequences for violating those rules will help you to monitor your kid.
Driving is a privilege, and a privilege can be taken away. So…cell phones in the glove compartment (be sure to turn the notification “dings” are off). And long live your kid!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Teens Behind The Wheel – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Distracted Driving

Daun Thompson — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 05:10:20 +0000

Spring has sprung and kids are enjoying their spring break vacation. What better time for a road trip? Spring flowers are in bloom and Texas is famous for their wildflowers. People come from everywhere to see Texas in bloom. So, an abundance of distracted driving will ensue during Spring break. Families will likely be parking on the shoulder of the freeway to take pictures of their children in the Bluebonnets. In fact, I thought it was actually a Texas “law” that you were required to take pictures of your kids in the Bluebonnets on the side of the freeway with semi trucks flying past, scorpions, tarantulas, fire ants, cactus, poison ivy and rattlesnakes! I took a picture of my daughter in the Bluebonnets when she was a baby. But I put her on a blanket. Babies have sensitive skin and rash up easily. I took so many pictures of my baby that she was photo-jaded by the time she was a toddler. She was an October baby, born the month of Halloween. I have a picture of her when she was probably only four days old, where I hollowed out a pumpkin and shoved her in it. Babies have those giant basketball heads and small necks, so they can’t hold their own head up (you just want to tape a popsicle stick to their neck to prop up their head). And I put the top of the pumpkin right on her head, right on her soft spot. You know, when you’re a single parent and you don’t get any sleep because you do all of the feedings and diaper changing by yourself, you do some really stupid things. I learned this, I learned that Child Protective Services (CPS) will babysit. For FREE…for YEARS!
So look out for cars parking and/or slowing down to observe the wildflowers. Slow down, when passing, or, better yet, move over a lane.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Distracted Drivers – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Smoking Inside a Car

Daun Thompson — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 06:10:49 +0000

I grew up in a generation where adults were always smoking inside a car with children present. Even smoke on a bus or a plane. Well, now we have one more reason to cause a baby to cry on a plane. Now, with our knowledge of second hand smoke, heck, that’s probably why Froggy, the kid on The Little Rascals, talked the way he did. An elderly man told me that he stopped smoking in his car out of guilt because he threw a lit cigarette out his car window and it came back into the back window, landed in his granddaughter’s booster seat and burned her leg. What the heck was he doing smoking in the car with a child present in the first place? What a relief it would be if every state passed a law prohibiting anyone from smoking in a vehicle with anyone under 18 present. Perhaps it would be an even better idea if people were prohibited from smoking in a car altogether. That would certainly help to eliminate distractions and grass fires. As of October 1st, England passed a law regarding this. Cheerio for them, I say!

Research shows that second hand smoke is even more dangerous to children than adults because children breathe more rapidly and have less developed airways, lungs and immune systems. Every time a child breathes in second hand smoke, they breathe in thousands of chemicals. This puts them at risk for serious conditions including meningitis, cancer, bronchitis and pneumonia. And it can worsen asthma.

Now, at least eight states in America (Oregon, California, Utah, Vermont, Main, Arkansas, Louisiana and Puerto Rico) have banned smoking in cars when children are present. And other states are considering it. Not only is smoking in an enclosed space hazardous for children, it is also hazardous for other passengers. Plus, of course, preventing the driver from being distracted by the act of smoking decreases the danger of traffic accidents.

It is said that over 80% of cigarette smoke is invisible and even opening windows does not remove all of the smoke. The level of toxic air in a vehicle from one cigarette is up to 10 times greater than levels that are considered hazardous. And, again, Children with undeveloped lungs and immune systems are susceptible to serious health issues from being cooped up in a car with a smoker.

So, think twice before lighting up with children in the car.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Smoking Inside A Car – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Texting Lane

Daun Thompson — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 04:09:30 +0000

When you’re walking down the street these days, people don’t even say hello when passing. They’re too busy texting or reading something on their phone. I read a study that said this could be the cause of double chins and bad posture. What about all of the beautiful trees and colorful landscapes they miss? I remember when we had land lines and answering machines. You actually had to wait until you got home from work to see who was trying to reach you. Now we have instant gratification and no place to hide from bill collectors. We had rotary dial phones, tethered to a short cord leading to a wall jack. If you were being stabbed to death and needed help, the last number you’d want to dial is “9.” And the “1-1”… forget about it. By then you’ve already bled out. Your only other option was to dial zero, which was even worse. Perhaps that was called natural selection in those days.
Now, everyone is talking or texting. They’re wearing a Bluetooth earpiece, hidden under their hair so you can’t see it. They’re looking directly at you, walking towards you. Wow! You think they’re talking to YOU. So you ask them “What?” And they snarl “I’m not talking to YOU!” How rude is that? Perhaps someone should invent a bubble to wear so you can have a personal conversation in public. And, what about women talking on the phone in a public restroom? They do that! That’s not only awkward for those of us in the restroom with her, but awkward for the person on the other end of the line. They can hear the toilets flush, you know. It sounds like a Chinese Gong. “Where are you calling me from?” “Benihana?” But men take selfies in a public restroom mirror, so everyone loses in the manners department, both men and women.
No one is paying attention to you, to life, to the road, or to others on the sidewalk. Utah Valley University has created a texting lane for students who are walking while texting. Not a bad idea. Perhaps city streets should have texting lanes as well. After all, there are bicycle lanes in some cities. The Chinese city of Chongqing has done just that. They’ve created a Smartphone sidewalk lane. And the Belgian city of Antwerp introduced text walking lanes for pedestrians using mobile phones. Sounds like a smart idea. It’s probably a crowded lane.
As for texting lanes on roadways, now that would be the lane with the smoke and the fire…
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Texting Lane – Comedy Defensive Driving

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